Chairman of the Regional Health Committee, Zamal Hussain is urging Berbicians to demand services from the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, since he said health officials there have stated that the necessary facilities are in place at the institution.
Previously it was reported that there were no films to carry out necessary x-rays at the major health facility. Residents of Berbice have complained tirelessly about this, as most times they would have to take their patients to private institutions to have the x-rays done then return to the hospital with their results. Residents had stated, that not only was the situation frustrating, but sometimes they could not afford the cost of the x-rays.
However, the chairman at the region’s statutory meeting this month, stated that at the health committee meeting it was reported to members by health officials representing the Director of Regional Health Services that everything was in order. “We were told that the x-rays, ultra sound and so is functioning, there is some amount of film at the hospital and I was told up to Friday we had the films in place to do the necessary x-rays, so I want to let the public know through the media that systems are in place at New Amsterdam Hospital, you need to demand services based on the report.”
Additionally, Hussain said that it was also reported to them that “everything is well in Orealla,” and as such he urged residents there to also demand services from the health institutions located in the area.
Meanwhile, Hussain pointed out that the location where the new mortuary is expected to be constructed was also discussed at the meeting, “We might be finding ourselves in another serious problem in terms of transporting the dead to the location of the mortuary,” since it is located in the National Psychiatric Hospital Compound.
According to Hussain, the health committee was not contacted to give an opinion on the location and Regional Chairman, David Armogan, then also noted that he was not contacted either, “We need as an RDC to be given the authority to actually give our input in the location of these critical services.”
The chairman referred to President David Granger’s remarks about the importance of local democracy and complained that the RDC is being sidelined on many issues within the region.
He also pointed out that they have become aware that a trolley is being used to transport medical drugs and supplies from the bond located at the Regional Health Services to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, “We need to correct this,” he urged.
